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West Coast coach Adam Simpson has recalled five key players from injury for Sunday's AFL clash with the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.
West Coast's star-studded forwards are ready to rumble, but can the team's underdone midfield go the distance with the Western Bulldogs this Sunday?
Eagles coach Adam Simpson has rolled the dice by recalling five players from injury, including two in the midfield, for the clash at Optus Stadium.
Eagles skipper Luke Shuey will play his first AFL match since round three after recovering from hamstring surgery, while star on-baller Tim Kelly (knee) returns for his first game since round 11.
All-Australian defenders Brad Sheppard (concussion) and Jeremy McGovern (knee) were also recalled, along with speedster Jack Petruccelle (hamstring).
Shuey and Kelly will join the recently-returned Elliot Yeo, running machine Andrew Gaff, grand-final hero Dom Sheed and the in-form Jack Redden in West Coast's engine room.
The Dogs are spoilt for choice when it comes to their own blue-chip midfield.
Marcus Bontempelli was the key factor in the Bulldogs' win over West Coast in round two when he tallied 30 disposals and three goals.
Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae and Lachie Hunter have also been averaging big numbers this year, and Simpson noted there's merit in tagging any one of them.
"That's the thing with the Doggies. You think it could be Bont (who will do the most damage), and then Libba will tear you apart, and then Macrae or Hunter," Simpson said.
"Their midfield is a real strength of theirs. But it's the system. It's what they do together that you've got to try to combat.
"So whether that's taking on a player and trying to tag someone, or trying something different, or just playing your way and backing your own way in - that's something we've got to work through."
If West Coast can at least halve the midfield battle and avoid a late fadeout, they have spearheads Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Oscar Allen lying in wait to kick a bag.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge will be relying on Alex Keath, Ryan Gardner and Zaine Cordy to shut down West Coast's big three.
Kennedy (four goals), Darling (three) and Allen (two) combined for nine goals in the seven-point loss to the Bulldogs in round two, but Beveridge wasn't overly concerned by that big return.
"(They) got really clean supply and kicked goals from the boundary line, but at no stage did they really take a lot of contested marks," Beveridge said.
"There was some blatant turnover that they fed off and it's a pretty easy conclusion to jump to that we're compromised in that area if key forwards kick that many goals."
The second-placed Bulldogs (10-3) have lost two of their past three matches, including the recent after-the-siren heartbreak to Geelong.
West Coast (8-5) revived their top-four hopes with a last-gasp win over Richmond before last week's bye.
